April 12th, 1860.—We are going to have a May Party at Greenwood. Florence Holland will be our Queen. She is the prettiest of all our girls. I am Maid of Honor and we have ever so many different ones in it. It will be pleasant no doubt, but I have been so happy all the winter and spring, having Grandpa and Grandma in Florida, that I really begrudge the time given to anything else. They do not stay at Live Oak any more. Grandpa gave Live Oak to Uncle William (his youngest son) and he lives at Waverly. The house is not the splendid mansion that he left but it is pretty and comfortable and it sits in the midst of the most magnificent grove of oaks in Leon County.
Henry and Dan (my step uncles) and Johnnie Branch came with Grandpa and we have the best times. We each have a horse and Grandpa lets us ride whenever we like. He is not nervous and isn’t always looking out for us to get hurt, which is very gratifying, for we think we are big enough and old enough to take care of ourselves.
April 22nd, 1860.—Grandpa has consented to stay until after the May Party and we feel so complimented that he should honor us with his presence. Now I am going to practice my part in good earnest for I do not want to fail when he is coming to look on.
May 3rd, 1860.—The May Party was a complete success; everyone who came said it was. Our Queen was beautiful and the flower girls were, too. All the party looked their best and there was a large crowd from Tallahassee and from Thomasville. Grandpa was pleased and said so many pretty things about the whole affair.
On the morning of the 2nd Grandpa and Grandma set out for North Carolina, taking the boys with them. I had hoped we could go to visit them this coming summer but Father says planters in the South will have to stay at home for awhile. The sky is clear now but the storm may come at any time.
